Portable electronic identification light



Aug. 2, 1955 W. D. NUPP ET AL PORTABLE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION LIGHT Filed May 21, 1954 VJX WARREN D. NUPP BY JACK M. ROS N 2,714,692 PORTABLE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION LIGHT Warren D. Nupp, Oreland, and Jack M. Rosen, Levittown, :1.

Application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,622 7 Claims. (Cl. 315-232) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The invention relates to a portable electronic identification light and more particularly relates to a flasher device which will exhibit suflicient attention drawing and luminative properties while possessing features of long life and comparative industructibility.

Previous methods of accomplishing some of the functions of the instant invention are equipment of life jackets or other safety equipment with one light flare and one smoke flare and by carrying conventional types of flashlights. Disadvantages of the old methods were that the light flare and smoke flare were capable of burning only about one minute each and the flash lights were capable of operation for a maximum of two hours. The relatively short duration of operation greatly reduced the possibility of rescue and rendered the devices incapable of accomplishing other functions of the invention.

Accordingly, a purpose of the invention is to aid in the problem of locating and rescuing a man adrift at sea especially at night by providing a life jacket or life raft with the inventive flasher device.

Another purpose of the invention is to of marker signal useful especially at night.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a device capable of acting as a temporary buoy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flasher device which will have relatively long life and require relatively low power input to line the edge of a road along which military vehicles are proceeding without lights or to mark the rear of the preceding vehicles in such a line of military vehicles.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a flasher rescue aircraft trouble wherein persons are in helpless condition in the water, on land or in parachutes and which will provide a readily available device for location by rescue parties.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide flashing light devices capable of acting as guides along an aircraft runway or for other guiding purposes.

Another object of the invention is to present a flashing light which will have a much longer life for a given battery size and a greater range of visibility than a continuously burning incandescent lamp such as a flash light.

Another purpose is to provide for flashing a gas lamp electronically so as to present maximum efliciency and reliability in a flashing light device.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a device of relatively long life, which will be rugged in construction, which will be reliable in operation, which will not be readily subject to breakdown, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will provide a better means of rescue or of indicator equipment.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same present a type apparatus which may be used in case of 2 ,714,692 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

The figure presents a schematic representation of the electrical circuit of an illustrative embodiment of the inventive device.

A D. C. (direct current) source may be provided, as, for example, a volt battery B. Attached to the posi- PL-2, which may be a A, watt neon lamp. The other end of neon lamp PL-2 may be connected tion between neon lamp P -1 and resistor R2.

Conventional means (not shown) may be provided to disconnect the operation of the circuit of Fig. 1 during storage period or periods of non-use and to connect it during periods when it may be required for use.

In operation the 60 microfarad capacitor C1 charges up through the resistor R1 to the firing voltage of the extinguishing voltage of the lamp which would cause it to go out. The cycle is then repeated. By firing an auxiliary lamp or tube PL-2 through the resistor R2 in 3 series with the lamp PL-1, the voltage across lamp PL*1 is momentarily reduced below the extinguishing value. The circuit of the auxiliary lamp PL-2 is arranged to flash several times for each flash of lamp PL-l. Thus, without being synchronized to the flashing rate of lamp PL1, auxiliary lamp PL-2 performs its function of extinguishing lamp PL-l without materially affecting the flashing rate of lamp PL-l. Charging path of capacitor C2 is through the resistor R3 to the firing voltage of neon lamp PL-2.

Thus, there is provided a flashing light comprising a gas-discharge lamp or tube such as a neon lamp flashed by an electronic switching arrangement. For use with a life jacket, for example, it is proposed to have a package size and shape of the flares and flashlight now normally supplied with life jackets and light enough in weight to permit it to float. The lamp may be mounted in a protective plastic hood so designed and the whole assembly so balanced that the lamp sends its light in all directions above the horizontal when floating in still water. Batteries and neon lamps of special required size can be designed or obtained on special order to improve operation and are within the scope of the instant invention.

The components shown in the figure have been selected to provide a flashing rate of about 1 per second at the start of operation. It is a characteristic of these circuits that, as the batteries weaken, the original intensity of the flash is retained but the rate of flashing decreases. it is estimated that the time for the flashing rate to decrease to one every two seconds for flashers meeting the weight and size requirements of a life jacket, for example, would be at least 50 hours, for the device illustrated in the drawing.

Thus, there is provided a flashing light which will have a much longer lift for a given battery size and a greater range of visibility than has an incandescent lamp burning continuously, as in a flash light. At the same time, by flashing a gas-discharge lamp electronically the maximum efficiency, reliability, rugged construction, and other advantages of a flashing light is achieved.

The relationship of suggested values for the component parts is somewhat critical in that it is important that the circuit of the lamp PL-2 be of such component values as to extinguish the lamp PL-l at the desired rate and that the lamp PL1 flash at a desired rate. In the illustrative embodiment values of tubes or lamps, resistors and capacitors are chosen with a view towards the necessity for extinguishing the load 3 watt neon lamp without affecting its flashing rate selected for one per second at the start of operation. The A1 watt neon lamp is self extinguishing. However, it is contemplated as within the scope of the invention that relatively wide variations in values with a view toward the functions expected to be accomplished may be made and the invention is not to be construed as restricted to the specific values given by way of illustration.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, one simplified version contemplated may be a circuit comprising a D. C. voltage source as for example, a 120 volt source, a resistor (of the order of 1.0 megohm) having one end connected to the positive terminal of the 120 volt voltage source, a gas-discharge lamp, such as an NE48, watt neon lamp, connected to the other end of the resistor, a capacitor such as a 4 microfarad capacitor, disposed across the neon lamp, the other end of the capacitor and the neon lamp being connected to the negative side of the D. C. voltage source. This circuit would provide a flashing rate of about 1 per second at the start of operation and for a flasher meeting the weight and size requirements of a life jacket, for example, it would last a duration of several weeks before failure resulted. That is, considering failure as decreasing beyond a flashing rate of less than every two seconds. However, such a circuit could not readily be used where a neon lamp such as is shown in the figure, that is a neon lamp approximately of the order of three watts would be required because the lamp would not extinguish after flashing but would remain weakly lighted continuously without the provision of the auxiliary lamp PL-Z and its associated circuitry. However, this circuit could be provided for its relatively limited range of usefulness.

As hereinbefore stated changes of component values within the limits required by functions to be accomplished by the circuit could readily be introduced without departing from the spirit of the invention and other components accomplishing functions of individual components could be substituted or introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles taught herein.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable electronic identification light, an electrical circuit comprising a first path including a voltage source, a resistor of relatively low resistance connected to a first terminal of the voltage source, a gas-discharge tube having a relatively high firing point, a resistor of intermediate value connected to a second terminal of the voltage source, a capacitor of relatively high capacitance being disposed in parallel with said low value resistor and said high firing point gas-discharge tube, a second path including said voltage source, a capacitor of relatively low capacitance connected to the first terminal of the voltage source, a resistor of relatively high value connected to the second terminal of said voltage source, a gas-discharge tube of relatively low firing voltage being connected at one end at a point between said low value resistor and said high firing point gas-discharge tube and being connected at the other end at a point between said low value capacitor and said high value resistor.

2. In an electronic identification light, a direct current voltage source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a relatively high value first resistor having one end connected to the positive terminal of the voltage source, a relatively high wattage neon lamp having one end connected to said first resistor, a second resistor of comparatively low value, the neon lamp having its other end connected to one end of the second resistor, the second resistor at its end opposite the end connected to the neon lamp being connected to the negative terminal of the voltage source, a relatively high value capacitor having one end connected to the junction between the first resistor and the relatively high wattage neon lamp, and having its other end connected to the negative terminal of the voltage source, a third resistor of very high value, a neon lamp of relatively low wattage having one end connected to one end of said third resistor and having its other end connected to the junction between the neon lamp of relatively high wattage and the second resistor, a relatively low value capacitor with respect to the high value of the high value capacitor having one end connected to the junction between the third resistor and the relatively low wattage neon lamp and having its other end connected to the negative terminal of the voltage source, said relatively high value capacitor charging through said first resistor to a point at which said relatively high'wattage neon lamp will fire, said relatively low value capacitor charging through said third resistor to periodically charge said relatively low wattage neon lamp to firing point, discharge of said relatively iow capacitor through said relatively low wattage neon lamp sustaining firing of said last named neon lamp until a point where discharge of the neon iamp through said second resistor will cause discharge of said relatively high capacitor through said relatively high wattage neon lamp to fall to a point where extinguishing of said relatively high wattage neon lamp will occur.

3. A portable electronic identification light comprising a first D. C. voltage source having a positive and a negative side, a first resistor of relatively high value having one end connected to the positive terminal of said voltage source, a neon lamp of the order of three watts having one end connected to the end of the relatively high value first resistor opposite the end connected to the positive side of the D. C. voltage source, a second resistor of relatively very small value having one end connected to the three watt neon lamp at its end opposite the relatively high resistor connected end, and having its other end connected to the negative side of the D. C. voltage source, a capacitor disposed across said three watt neon lamp and said relatively low value resistor, said capacitor being of relatively high value, a resistor of very high value connected at one end to the positive side of the D. C. voltage source, a neon lamp of the order of watt having one end connected to the relatively high value resistor at its end opposite the positive side D. C. voltage connected end and having its other end connected to the junction between the three watt neon lamp and the relatively loW one end tied to the junction between the relatively high value resistor and the A watt neon lamp and having its other end tied to the negative side of the voltage source.

4. A portable identification light comprising a D. C. voltage source, a resistor of the order of 1 megohm, a of l microfarad, said resistor being connected to the positive side of the D. C. voltage source, said resistor at its end opposite the end connected to the positive voltage source being connected to one end of the capacitor, the other end of the capacitor being connected to the negative side of the voltage source, a resistor of the order of .1 megohm, said .1 megohm resistor being connected to the positive side of the D. C. voltage source, a neon lamp of the order of three watts having one end connected to the end of the .1 megohm resistor opposite the end connected to the positive side of the D. C. voltage source, a resistor of the order of three hundred ohms, said resistor having one end connected to the end of the three Watt neon lamp opposite the end connected nected to the negative side of the D. C. voltage supply, a capacitor of the order of 60 microfarads disposed between the junction between the .1 megohm resistor and the three watt neon lamp and having its other side connected to the the D. C. voltage source, a neon lamp of the order of watt connected at one end between the 1.0 megohm resistor and the capacitor of the order of 1.0 microfarad and connected at its other end to the junction between the 300 ohm resistor and the three Watt neon lamp thereby providing intermittent lighting and extinguishing of the three watt lamp.

5. A portable electronic identification light comprising of three watts, a first resister of the order of .1 megohm connected in series with said three watt neon lamp, a second resistor of the order of 300 ohms connected in series with said first neon lamp, a battery source having a positive side and a negative side to supply power for lighting said first neon la circuit disposed across the battery and comp provide a fla shing action of the first neon lamp.

6. In a portable electronic identification light, a direct current power source, a first circuit including a first gasdischarge large first discharge tube and a relatively low first r posed in series across said power source an capacitance connected in parallel tube, means to insure periodic extinguishme tube comprising a second circuit including esistance disnd a relatively small second capacitance connected in parallel with said and a third resistance connected in series second tube, with both the parallel with tively,

whereby said third resistance is first and the second tubes said first and second capacita the first and the second circuits.

7. A portable electronic identification ligh battery, a first resistance, a first neon lamp, and a second relatively low resistance connected in series across said battery,

whereby the portion neon lamp.

nces, respeccommon to both t including a and disposed a relatively large capacitance disposed resistance and of the circuit eon lamp insures periodic extin- References Cited in the file of this patent July 9, 1946 

